“We’re making great progress, across the board we’re trying to bring it all together,” Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said recently. “We are coming closer in every part of the bill.”

The reauthorization of the Farm Bill continues to take much more time than many would like. Some programs have been extended, others are unfunded, unauthorized and unreformed – much to the dismay of agriculture producers across the nation.

However, Rep. Adam Kinzinger – an Ottawa Republican – remains optimistic on the prospects for passage.

It’s been a long process to get here, but I am hopeful that both sides will be able to come to agreement on a long-term bill,” said Kinzinger in a statement. “Illinois farmers need reliable farm policy that lets them plan ahead instead of guessing what will come from Washington year after year. It’s time we got this critical legislation done to give farmers across the state and the country the certainty they have long deserved.”

Senate Democrats and House Republicans have battled for over a year on key sticking points including subsidies and food stamp and nutrition assistance programs, which has pushed federal support for farmers past several key deadlines.

According to the USDA, passage of a comprehensive Farm Bill will be particularly impactful in rural areas of the country, where poverty is more widespread.

Since 2009, rural development programs, which are often included in the legislation, have financed 3,898 rural water and wastewater projects, helping create jobs and providing clean water for millions of Americans.

While the approaches of both parties continue to differ, and details remain scarce, optimism on a rare piece of bipartisan legislation could be put forward before the end of the year.

“We’re making great progress, across the board we’re trying to bring it all together,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK). “We made great progress. We have more progress to make. Let us keep working.”